Farm Africa organisation will hire more than 30,000 youths in Homa Bay to undertake aquaculture activities.
Participants will benefit from the project dubbed 'Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture'.
It will be implemented by Farm Africa in partnership with the county government.
Programmes manager Teddy Nyanapa said his organisation will provide the selected youth with funds to undertake fish farming.
“The programme is aimed at giving the youth the capacity to undertake aquaculture. This will be done by giving them zero rated loans and grants,” Nyanapa said.
Speaking during the signing of the MoU with Governor Gladys Wanga, he said they will also support production of quality and affordable fish feeds to enable sustainability.
“The capacity building for the youths will enhance their skills in producing fish in a manner that is desirable. Fish feed production will be incorporated in the programme as well,” he added.
The project will be undertaken in six counties and will run for five years.
“Our key partner Mastercard Foundation and other partners are funding this project at Sh2.5 billion for all the six counties. We’re targeting a total of 150,000 youthful men and women in all the six counties."
The other five counties include Kakamega, Siaya, Kisumu, Vihiga and Kilifi.
Allocation for each county will depend on the number of beneficiaries, which will be identified by each county government.
Wanga lauded the project, saying it will strengthen her agenda of creating jobs for the youth.
“We are going to support Farm Africa to ensure our youth benefit from this project. Fish is a good value chain which generates a lot of money for farmers,” she said.
“The main agenda is to empower young men and women in the county to get livelihood sources hence the significance of this project.”
